Sometimes the rain can be on your side… Lysterfield Park can be very busy, especially on weekends, but this time, with rain in the forecast, there was hardly anyone around. Just me and my friends, braving the occasional drops of rain. And what a lovely surprise it was. Lysterfield Park is a beautiful natural escape,…
Category: Ju-Lyn’s Happy Place Happy Space
A Birthday Celebration at the Homestead
Last Saturday was my hubby’s birthday weekend so we celebrated it with his two sisters and brother in law and a friend. And as per usual I am posting this as response for a mix of challenges. A lovely visit to Stamford Park Homestead, where history, beautiful gardens, and great food come together. Built in…
One Saturday morning in Kallista
I never take Melbourne’s weather for granted. It can change in an instant, so when I caught a glimpse of sunshine, I didn’t waste the opportunity. I asked Jack and two of our friends if they felt like heading up to the mountains for a leisurely stroll and lunch. We decided on Kallista in the…
A walk in the Fog
Winter mornings here in Melbourne have been wrapped in a blanket of fog lately. This definitely makes our walks through the local wetlands even more magical. Walking past the permanent residents … always there to welcome us—the graceful black swans, busy coots, and other waterbirds going about their day, completely unfazed by the weather. The…
Travel Diary: Dauin – Day 4
It was one of those days when things didn’t go according to plan. The main reason we went to Dauin was to visit Apo Island, where we had heard that hundreds of sea turtles (pawikan) could be seen. We were excited for the experience, but sometimes travel has its own surprises, and not everything turns…
Travel Diary: Dauin – Day 3
Patricia suggested having breakfast at a healthier option restaurant. We all agreed to go, except for Tim, who preferred to sleep-in a little longer. We walked back to our accommodation, taking our time to enjoy the local scenery and the laid-back charm of the province along the way. We had pre-booked a van to take…
Travel Diary: Dauin – Day 2
When I woke up, this was the view from our room window. It was a beautiful sight to start the day in Dauin… a town near Negros Oriental, Philippines. Before the place fully woke up, Jack and I enjoyed breakfast by the beach. At that early hour, it felt like we had the whole place…
Travel Diary: Lady Buddha – Day 12
After spending the previous day under grey skies and rain, we were hoping for better weather on our last full day in Da Nang. To our delight, we woke up to brilliant sunshine streaming through the window. Eager to take advantage of the perfect day, I wasted no time booking a ride and setting off…
Travel Diary: Ba Na Hills Day 11
That morning, we had a 9 AM tour to catch, with a pickup point just a few minutes’ walk from our hotel in Da Nang. It felt easy, almost effortless, as we made our way there, still easing into the day. About an hour later, we arrived at Sun World Ba Na Hills — and…